Locking and releasing mechanism for function controlling keys of calculating machines



Feb. 2, 1965 s. E. TOORELL 3,168,241

LOCKING AND RELEASING MECHANISM FOR puucnou CONTROLLING KEYS OF CALCULATING MACHINES Filed April 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

q /l/lml wy 1N VENTOR. I STURE EFRAIM TOORELL ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1965 s. E. TOORELL 3,163,241

LOCKING AND RELEASING MECHANISM FOR FUNCTION CONTROLLING KEYS OF CALCULATING MACHINES 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

lNVEA ITOR. STURE EFRAIM TOORELL ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()fitice 3,168,241 LGCKENG AND RELEASING MECHANISM FOR FUNCTXQN CGNTROLLING KEYS ll? CAL- CUTJATING MACHINES Stnre Efrairn Toorell, Atvidaherg, Aktiebolaget Atvidalserg-Facit, joint-stock company of Sweden Filed Apr. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 273,658 Claims priority, application Sweden, Apr. 18, 1%2, 4,374/62 2 Claims. (Cl. 235-130) The present invention relates to automatic calculating machines or the like adapted to perform single calculating operations as well as operation sequences, and has for its particular object the provision of a locking and releasing mechanism which prevents the function keys and members actuated thereby from returning to initial position during the actual operation.

According to the invention, the function keys through the intermediary of actuating members cooperate with a hook member, said hook member being prevented from being positioned in the travel path of a rocker performing a reciprocating rocking motion for each operation cycle of the machine until the operation is finished.

When the function key locking members which are of a known type are returned to inactive position, the hook member is no longer prevented from moving into the rocker path and is moved by a spring into that path. Then the hook member and a disengagement link movably supporting the hook member are moved and transmit their motion to a releasing member which moves aside the key locking member corresponding to the actuated function key to permit the latter to return to the nonactuated position, and to set free the other function keys the other operation keys having meanwhile been locked against actuation by known means such as a ball look.

It is an object or" the invention to provide a hook member which may upon depression of an operation key be urged into the path of a rocker member which will effect the release of the key at a predetermined time in the cycle of the machine drive shaft.

It is another object of the invention to provide means for preventing the movement of the hook into position to effect unlocking of the key until the operation initiated by the operation key, or in some instances the series of operations, has been completed thus assuring that the key will not, after full depression, be released until the operation initiated thereby has been completed.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the annexed drawings, in which,

FTGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the locking and release mechanism of the invention; and

2 through 4 illustrate on an enlarged scale the cooperation between an operation key and a latch member which prevents the key from returning to its initial position.

In the drawings, the particular mechanism illustrated comprises the elements actuated by the depression of a clearing key, but it should be understood that analogous operation cycles will be actuated upon depression of any other function key. Also it will be understood that when any of the group of operation keys is depressed known locking means such as a ball lock prevents the actuation of any other key of the group.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that upon depression of a function key 1, its key lever 2 rotates counterclockwise on a pivot 3 which is fixed in the machine frame (not illustrated). The arm 2a of the key lever abuts a slotted plate 4 which is pivota ly supported by two tilting arms (not illustrated) for reducing friction,

Sweden, assignor to Atvidaberg, Sweden, 2

Iiflbiifi il Patented Feb. 2, 1955 and rests upon a support plate 5, and is guided by two studs (not illustrated) projecting from the latter plate and engaging laterally elongated slots in plate This plate is formed with a plurality of slots for cooperation with the function key levers, the entrance of each slot having an oblique-shaped or cumming portion. Upon actuation, the key levers 2 abut the respective cumming portions, and thereby displace plate 4 laterally. The corresponding slot thus will become aligned with the key lever.

The plate t upon lateral displa ement engages a drive arm 6 which, together with a second drive arm 7, is pivoted on a shaft fast in the machine frame (not illustrated). The drive arm e transmits the motion imposed thereupon by the plate 4 to a bell crank 9 pivotally journalled in the base plate (not il ustrated) of the machine. One arm of bell crank 9 is connected by a link 11 to a three-armed lever ill which will be rotated counterclockwise around its pivot 12 fixed in the base plate, upon the depression of key 1.

The lever 16 cooperates with a multi-armed lever 13 (to be described later) and also with a contact arm Pi l. The latter is pivotally mounted on a stud l5 fixed in the base plate, and receives upon a slight depression of a function key, such as key 1, an angular motion which is sufficiently great to close an electric circuit comprising contact l6 and the electric drive motor (not illustrated) of the machine. If the operator releases the key after such slight depression, it as well as other actuated elements, returns to initial position as well as the other elements actuated.

Upon greater depression of the operation key 1 to a position corresponding to about a third of the total travel of the key lever, a latch member 17' moves into the path of key lever 2 (FIG. 2). The latch 17 is pivoted on a stud 18 fast in the support plate 5, and has an upturned spring lug extending into a wide recess 19:: in a release member 19. The latch 17 is moved into locking position by a spring 2% having one end secured to the spring lug and the other end secured to a spring anchor 21 fast in support plate 5. The motion of latch 17 is restricted by its engagement with the right hand edge of the recess (FIG. 3). As a consequence, key lever 2 cannot return to non-actuated position, even if the operator has released the key 1, and thus the member 4 and elements cooperating therewith cannot be returned. This fact as well as the conventional locking of keys (not illustrated) which permits the depression of but one function key at a time, causes the locking of the other function keys, as well.

The latch 17 consequently must be returned to nonlocking position to permit the elements taking part in the operation to return to their initial positions. Such return movement is brought about in the following manner.

As mentioned above, the lever 19 cooperates with the lever 13 as well as with contact arm 14. Upon the motion of lever to lever 13 is moved by spring connecting said two levers. Lever 13 is pivoted on a stud fast in the base plate, and is connected to a link member 24, to be described below, and to a hook member The latter is pivoted on a stud 27a fixed to a disengagement link 27, and is shaped with an elongated slot engaged by a stud 13a fixed to lever 13. The hook member 25 is formed with a hook portion 25a for engaging a rocker 28. This rocker 28 is pivoted on a stud 29 fast in the base plate, and receives, upon starting of the drive motor, a reciprocating motion during each machine cycle by the engagement between an arm and a rotary cam (not illustrated), said arm engaging a forked portion formed on rocker 28.

The motion transmitted to hook member by spring 2-2 when a function key is depressed and moved through a third of its total travel, results in the displacement of the hook portion 25a into the path of travel of rocker 28. The latter consequently carries the hook member 25 along in its movement and also causes the disengagement link 27, which is guided for longitudinal movement by elongated slots therein engaging the stud 23 and another stud 39 secured in the base plate, to move rearwardly. The disengagement link 27 is connected through a further link 32 to a bell crank 53. This bell crank is pivoted on a stud 34 fast in the base plate, and receives a counterclockwise angular movement when the rocker 28 moves hook member 25 and disengagement link 27 This movement is transmitted to drive arm 7. The latter extends through an aperture in the release member 19, which thus receives a sideways motion from drive arm 7, and, by means of its slot 19a, returns the latch 17 to non-latching position (-FlG. 2). The key lever 2 now is free to return to its initial position due to the action of a torsion spring 35 which is disposed between the key lever and the machine frame.

Simultaneously with the return of the rocker 23, the disengagement link 27, link 32 and bell crank 33 are moved back to initial position by a tension spring 31 extending between stud 30 and a stud 27!) fast in the link 27, the release member 19 also being returned to initial position by a spring (not illustrated). The latch member 17 thereby is freed, and is pushed by spring 20 against the lateral surface of key lever 2, the other end of latch 17 engaging the left hand portion of the recess 1% (FIG. 4).

Upon the releasing of the key levers by the member 4 the other members taking part in the operation return to their inactiv position due to the action of a tension spring 36 extending between lever it and a stud 37 fast in the base plate.

Although the foregoing has described the operation when a function key, specifically the clearing key, is depressed only to the extent of one-third of its full travel, this was done for clarity and convenience since the intended operation is that the key be substantially fully depressed to initiate the corresponding operation or series of operations. When a function key lever is fully depressed the elements cooperating with the key lever 2 will operate in the same manner as before, but the hook member 25 cannot be moved into the travel path of rocker 28, as the action of elements now to be described will prevent this.

The bottom portion of arm 2a of key lever 2 engages an elongated slot in one end of a guide link This link at its other end may be displaced along a stud 39 fast in the base plate, and is provided with a stud 33a serving as a pivot for a clearing lever 4% When the key lever has not moved beyond about halfway along its travel path, portion 2. 1 can move freely in the slot in the guide link 38, and does not modify the position of the latter. Upon travel beyond this point, however, link 33 is moved, and the clearing lever 4t is swung clockwise on a pivot 41 fast in the base plate. The lever 49 engages a clearing arm 42 by means of a stud 42a fixed to the latter. The arm 42 will be swung counterclockwise about a pivot 43 fast in the base plate. The clearing arm 4-2 transmits its movement to a disengaging member 44 by means of a stud 42b fast in the clearing arm 42, and also to a latch member 45, to be described later.

The disengaging member 44 is pivoted on a stud 46 fast in the base plate, and on its clockwise movement by means of a lug 44a it actuates a disengaging slide 47 which is guided for movement laterally of the machine frame along two studs 58, 49 fast in the machine frame (not illustrated). The slide 47 will, upon displacement, turn a coupling element which is pivoted on a stud 54 fast in the base plate, said coupling element 56 in its turn engaging a stud 24a fast in the link member 24 and displacing the latter on studs 51, 52, 53 fast in the base plate, along its elongated guide slots. The link member 24 is provided in its other end with a stud 24b which carries the lever 13 along on displacement, and consequently hook member 25 receives a clockwise rotation. The tendency of hook member 25 .to be moved by spring 22 into the travel path of rocker 28 thus is counteracted by the elements just described, which become active upon the initiation of a function.

The connection between the clearing arm 42 and the stop latch 45 is established by a fork end 420 of the arm 42 which engages a shank on the latch 45. The latter is pivoted on a shaft 55 belonging to the drive motor assembly (not illustrated), and is provided with a lug 45a which is moved into stopping position for a starting cam assembly (not illustrated) when a clearing operation is actuated, the cam assembly thus being prevented from returning to initial position before the clearing operation has been finished. Such a starting cam assembly is described in co-pending patent application No. 262,975, filed on March 5, 1963.

The stop latch 4-5 further is provided with a stud 45b which engages an elongated slot in a starting arm $6. The latter thereby receives a clockwise angular movement on a stud 57 fast in the drive motor assembly. The starting arm 56 is formed at its front end with a lug 56a engaging a starting cam 64 belonging to the clearing mechanism. Upon the clockwise movement of the starting arm 56, lug 56a is moved out of engagement with a latch 65 pivotally journalled on the start cam. The latch 65 is pulled by a spring 66 to an active engagement with the drive mechanism, whereby the clearing operation will be started. Such a cam mechanism is described in the copending application referred to above.

Upon actuation of latch 65, starting arm 56 cannot resume its stopping position, but abuts, due to the action of a spring 26 the other end of which is connected to the motor drive assembly, the rear surface of the latch 65 before the latter engages the drive mechanism, whereafter the starting arm 56 slides along the circumference of the start cam, and rests against its greatest radius until the clearing has been finished, whereafter the starting arm 56 once more may resume stop and disengagement position for latch 65.

When the starting arm 56 is locked in this manner until the clearing operation is completed, all cooperating members are locked in their respective positions, save the clearing lever 46 and the guide link 38 which can be returned to their initial positions, provided the operator has released the function key 1. This key 1 is, of course, prevented from returning, due to the locking of the keys.

When the starting arm 56 is pulled to stop position by spring as, the general locking is cancelled, and the spring 2-2 tensioned by lever 10 again moves hook member 25 into the travel path of rocker 23 by means of member 13, whereafter return to initial position of all participating elements is effected in the same way as already described.

The mechanism according to the invention cooperates with members controlling the calculating operations in the same manner as with the clearing mechanism, but the impulses to hook member 25 are transmitted in a cliiferent way.

A start looking member 58 which is movably supported by the motor drive assembly and is more closely described in the aforesaid copending application, is adapted to impart to the disengagement slide 47 a lateral displacement for adding and subtracting operations, over a disengage ment arm 59 which is pivoted in the machine frame. The member 58 will thereby, over slide 47 and intermediary members, known per se, prevent hook member 25 from moving into the travel path of rocker 23. Return to initial position after a completed operation is performed as for a clearing operation.

For multiplication the mechanism is actuated by a pivoted arm 63 which displaces by means of a lug 24c the link 24, so that the hook member 25 is moved out of the travel path of rocker 28, whereas the hook member 25 is locked by an operation controlled guide link 60 for division. Otherwise, closing of contacts, locking of keys, retaining of hook member 25 and return of the respective elements is effected as described above with reference to clearing operations.

Since the other function keys are held against returning movements by the same mechanism during an operation, the invention is very well suited for machines performng operation sequences. For that purpose, the machine will be provided with special sequence keys with which the operator can actuate the starting of operation or function sequences. For such sequences the mechanism also may be actuated with a link 61 which, as other locking elements, is completely operation controlled.

What I claim is:

1. In a calculating machine of the type adapted to perform single operations and sequences of operations initiated by one of a group of function controlling keys, having means for preventing the operation of another of the group of function keys after actuation of one of the group, and having key locking means to prevent release of a function key prior to the completion of the associated operation or sequence of operations, in combination, a hook member, a disengaging link, means mounting said hook member on said disengaging link, a rocker member actuated by the machine drive, a spring tensioned by initial movement of a function key to urge said hook member into the path of said rocker member, means under control of the locking mechanism and operative during subsequent movement of a function key prior to engagement of said hook member with said rocker member to move said disengaging link to thereby move said hook member out of the path of said rocker member, and means operable only upon completion of the iniated operation or sequence of operations to release said disengaging link to again permit said hook member to enter the path of said rocker member and to thereby release said locked function key.

2. A calculating machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the initial movement of said hook member into the path of said rocker member also closes a circuit which controls the starting of the machine drive motor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,371 3/39 Uhlig 235-62 X 2,344,377 3/44 Vigborg 235 2,528,647 11/50 Garbell 235-130 LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CALCULATING MACHINE OF THE TYPE ADAPTED TO PERFORM SINGLE OPERATIONS AND SEQUENCES OF OPERATIONS INITIATED BY ONE OF A GROUP OF FUNCTION CONTROLLING KEYS, HAVING MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE OPERATION OF ANOTHER OF THE GROUP OF FUNCTION KEYS AFTER ACTUATION OF ONE OF THE GROUP, AND HAVING KEY LOCKING MEANS TO PREVENT RELEASE OF A FUNCTION KEY PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE ASSOCIATED OPERATION OF SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS, IN COMBINATION, A HOOK MEMBER, A DISENGAGING LINK, MEANS MOUNTING SAID HOOK MEMBER ON SAID DISENGAGING LINK, A ROCKER MEMBER ACTUATED BY THE MACHINE DRIVE, A SPRING TENSIONED BY INITIAL MOVEMENT OF A FUNCTION KEY TO URGE SAID HOOK MEMBER INTO THE PATH OF SAID ROCKER MEMBER, MEANS UN- 